Words With Double Letters in Scrabble
Double-letter words — words containing consecutive repeated letters like FF, ZZ, OO, or LL — are everywhere in English and pack serious scoring potential in Scrabble. When you draw duplicate tiles, these words turn what looks like a weak rack into a powerful play. BAZAAR uses your double-A, COFFEE deploys double-F, and TOFFEE combines both double-F and double-E. Here's everything you need to know about playing double-letter words for maximum points.
Double Letter Quick Stats
45
Max Points (PIZZAZZ)
ZZ
Highest Double (10+10)
FF
Most Common Double
100+
Valid Words
The Scrabble tile bag contains multiples of most letters (12×E, 9×A, 9×I, 6×N, etc.), so drawing duplicates is extremely common. Rather than seeing doubles as wasted rack space, recognize them as keys to high-scoring plays that your opponent might not expect.
Top Double-Letter Words by Points
Ranked by base point value. Words with double Z, X, J, or F score highest because those tiles carry premium values.
| # | Word | Points | Double | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIZZAZZ | 45 | ZZ | Flair, vitality |
| 2 | JAZZILY | 35 | ZZ | In a jazzy manner |
| 3 | BUZZING | 28 | ZZ | Making a humming sound |
| 4 | FIZZLE | 27 | ZZ | To fail weakly |
| 5 | PUZZLER | 27 | ZZ | Something that puzzles |
| 6 | MUZZLE | 26 | ZZ | Snout / to silence |
| 7 | DAZZLE | 25 | ZZ | To blind with light |
| 8 | BAZAAR | 17 | AA | Market or fair |
| 9 | AARDVARK | 16 | AA | Burrowing mammal |
| 10 | MAMMOTH | 16 | MM | Huge extinct elephant |
| 11 | BUFFOON | 15 | FF + OO | Clown, jester |
| 12 | COMMITTEE | 15 | MM + TT + EE | Group assembled to decide |
| 13 | COFFEE | 14 | FF + EE | Brewed beverage |
| 14 | BAFFLE | 14 | FF | To confuse |
| 15 | TOFFEE | 12 | FF + EE | Sweet candy |
| 16 | RACCOON | 11 | CC + OO | Masked mammal |
| 17 | BALLOON | 9 | LL + OO | Inflatable object |
| 18 | BASSOON | 9 | SS + OO | Musical instrument |
Premium Square Strategy for Doubles
Double-letter words have a unique advantage on premium squares: you can position the expensive half of the pair on the bonus square while the second identical letter rides free.
✓ Z on DLS in DAZZLE
First Z on DLS = 20 pts from that tile alone. Second Z adds 10 more naturally. The ZZ pair contributes 30 of the word's 25 base points when DLS is used.
✓ F on TLS in COFFEE
One F on Triple Letter Score = 12 pts from that tile. Combined with the second F (4 pts), the FF pair alone contributes 16 points. Place high-value doubles on premiums.
✓ BAZAAR on DWS
BAZAAR (17 pts) on a Double Word Score = 34 points. The entire word including both A-A pairs gets doubled. DWS rewards longer words with premium letters.
✗ Low-value double on DLS
Putting an L (1 pt) on DLS in BALLOON only adds 1 extra point. Prioritize placing the higher-value tile of the word on the premium square instead.
Strategy Tips
Embrace duplicate tiles: Drawing FF, ZZ, or MM isn't bad luck — it's an opportunity. COFFEE (14), BUZZING (28), and MAMMOTH (16) all require these "unwanted" duplicates. Know your double-letter words and turn liabilities into assets.
ZZ words are game-winners: With only one Z in the bag, ZZ words need a blank. But DAZZLE with blank-Z still scores 15 points base — and on premium squares, that can hit 45+. Worth saving your blank for.
BAZAAR is your AA word: With 9 A tiles in the bag, drawing 2+ A's is very common. BAZAAR (17 pts) uses them both productively while deploying the valuable Z (10 pts) and B (3 pts).
TOFFEE and COFFEE are reliable: Both use FF + EE — common duplicate draws. At 12 and 14 points respectively, they're solid 6-letter plays that don't need premium squares to be worthwhile.
Position expensive letters on premiums: In DAZZLE, aim to put a Z on DLS (not the D or L). In COFFEE, target the F on premium squares. The cheap letters can fill gaps — premium squares should boost your highest-value tiles.
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